Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, what this amendment says is, because the Department of Veterans Affairs is doing a remarkably bad job of providing timely health care to citizens, we should carve out that Department's responsibility for providing medications and timely health care and exempt it from the accountability that Congress, the elected representatives of the people, who are very responsive to the needs of veterans, would impose. With the REINS Act, Congress could instruct, with the passage of legislation to help veterans, and say, ``You must report back regulations within a certain time period,'' which the Congress could then act upon in a timely fashion, assuring themselves that not only have the regulations been done quickly, but also that they are going to address the problems in an effective way that we have all identified with what is going on in the Department of Veterans Affairs. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment which will simply preserve the bad system we have now for helping our veterans through a Department of Veterans Affairs that is unaccountable. We should, instead, make them more accountable by passing the REINS Act. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Pocan). The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes appeared to have it.”